Norway's Imhotep spoke to EXODUS guitar legend Gary Holt recently about a number of topics including their new album, The Atrocity Exhibition – Exhibit A, which is out now via Nuclear Blast. Here are a few excerpts from the chat:

Imhotep: What can you tell about Exhibit B, just how much of that is already written and how would you compare it to Exhibit A?

Gary Holt: "When we recorded Exhibit A we had too many songs and none of them were your typical throwaway, b-side bonus songs. We had long debates, which songs should be on the album. Finally we just chose the ones we felt would work best together for this album and create the right kind of atmosphere. We chose four songs to save, so now we have four songs recorded and done for the next album and we have to finish the remaining songs. About the direction of the next album, I can only comment on the four songs that are finished, and they all stand on their own compared to the first album. There will be some themes, both musical and lyrical that kind of tie each album together, but it’s not going to be like a two album concept record, really."

Imhotep: Comment on being the godfather of thrash.

Gary Holt: "I’ve become wiser during the years. You learn from past mistakes. I mean, he who does not remember the past is condemned to repeat it. As far as the band goes, the eighties were a magical and special time, but right now this is version two of the band and we are more deadly and dangerous than ever and we are most certainly hungrier than ever because we don’t take anything for granted. We are out to reclaim our spot at the top of the thrash metal world. I am pretty driven and I am not letting anything to get on my way. In the eighties there was newness on everything and we didn’t understand the business side of things. That’s was kind of bad but it was also good because we were just kids wanting to play thrash metal and getting wasted and looking for chicks. We didn’t have the business side of things to worry about and it was fun, you know. Haha, like 1989 the Headbangers Ball Tour, that was as close as any thrash metal band ever, got to feel like they are in MÖTLEY CRÜE, hahaha. We were playing in these huge places with ANTHRAX and HELLOWEEN and there were like 25 or 30 girls waiting for us outside the venue. It was fucking fun, but now we are older and little wiser and don’t want to get caught in any scandals. I have two daughters of my own now, so there a little difference in the way I feel about that stuff now, haha."

Imhotep: What about other plans, are you planning to release any DVD’s or something in the near future?

Gary Holt: "Right now this album is last in our contract with Nuclear Blast, so until we have come into terms with any kind of a new deal, any future projects are in halt – including Exhibit B. The one thing we are putting out this year on our own is a double-DVD called Double Live Dynamo, which has a 1985 Dynamo Club Show with Paul Baloff and 1997 Dynamo Festival Show. They’re the only shows Paul Baloff ever did in Eindhoven, Holland and especially the 1985 show is a legendary gig and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face when watching it."

Jackie Smit of Chronicles of Chaos recently conducted an interview with EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Chronicles of Chaos: What were the circumstances surrounding Tom's [Hunting, drums] return to EXODUS?

Holt: If you had to put it in one word: time. He just needed time to get to grips with his own personal issues. He had been struggling with things like anxiety attacks, and things like that, and also trying to split your time between that and a band that's on the road all the time and takes up all your time; it's pretty fucking impossible. But he got back on his feet, got healthy, started playing and just found a level of health and vitality where he was ready to come back to the band. He was living up in the mountains about an hour and a half from where I live, which is about three hours north of San Francisco, and when he called I just chucked my amp and my guitar into my van, drove up to see him and we just jammed and I knew right then and there that this dude is ready to fuck shit up.

Chronicles of Chaos: How did you manage the situation with Paul [Bostaph]? Was he always of the understanding that if Tom decided to come back, then he'd move on?

Holt: Yeah, he knew that when and if the day came that Tom wanted to come back, then the job was waiting for him. He knew that it was the best thing for the band, and he's both a good friend of Tom's and a huge fan. He's really an amazing guy and he always lands on his feet, so he wasn't really blown out into the cold. He wanted to try some different things anyway, and as it turns out he's playing for TESTAMENT now and he's also reunited FORBIDDEN for a couple of shows. So everything's worked out pretty well for everybody.

Chronicles of Chaos: Having Tom back in the studio and having him be part of the writing process; do you feel like his presence affected in any way how the songs ended up sounding?

Holt: Definitely. Other than during his time away from the band, he's the only drummer I've ever really played with in my life. I've got a buddy who I used to get drunk with and play blues songs, but he could barely play anyway, so that doesn't really count. Other than that, Tom is the first guy I ever played with, and I never played with another drummer until he had to leave the band for similar health reasons back in 1989. There's just this natural unspoken language between he and I over what needs to be done to a certain riff drum-wise, and it's just hard to put into words.

Chronicles of Chaos: You used Andy Sneap once again for the recording of "The Atrocity Exhibition" and I know that in the past you've had nothing but good things to say about him. What's been the secret to keeping this relationship as productive as it has been?

Holt: You know, we all love the music and we're all very, very good friends. I mean, a guy like Andy works with so many different clients that I suppose he has to try and get along with everybody to a certain extent. You obviously don't want to repeat working with a band who you don't like personally. But us and Andy really love each other in a non-homosexual friendly way. [Laughs] We have a lot of fun together and I think he has more fun with us than he does with a lot of other bands. He's actually said to us that working with EXODUS is like walking into a cartoon, because when we're in the studio and we're by ourselves we're out of our minds and there's no logic or sense to anything we do. He's a fan of our music dating back to the old days, and he's almost like a sixth member of this band. So I just can't ever see the day when we'd want to part ways, and I think that if that day did come, then it would probably be because we've exhausted every avenue creatively and because the band needs something new. But I don't see that happening until I'm in my fucking seventies.

Chronicles of Chaos: It's interesting what he's done with your music as well, because he seems to take a very different approach to each record. "Tempo of the Damned", for example, was really slick, whereas "Shovel Headed Kill Machine" was a far rawer, organic album and "The Atrocity Exhibition" is really bass-heavy and brutal. Typically I find that bands always go to a producer because they want a certain sound, but that doesn't seem to be the case here at all. Would you agree with that?

Holt: I think you absolutely hit the nail on the head, man. With every album that we do, we never want it to sound exactly like the previous record. It doesn't mean that we're intentionally trying to sound different; we still go through the motions of plugging in our gear and finding our tone. But we just want to make shit work with the songs, and on this album, we purposefully wanted to make the guitar sound super crunchy and abrasive, with the big bottom-end on them. With "Shovel Headed Kill Machine", it was more of a high-gain sound that we were after. With this one, we tried out different settings until we knew that we'd found something that was heavy as shit.

Just wanted to thank you all for making all the shows so special for us! I will never forget this tour as long as I live! THANK YOU! You guys are the craziest, wildest and loudest fans in the world and we can't wait to come back!

A three-minute trailer for the forthcoming "20 Years of Nuclear Blast" two-DVD set can be viewed below. Due on November 30 via Nuclear Blast, the collection — as the title implies — celebrates the 20th anniversary of the German metal label, featuring two DVDs with almost six hours' worth of footage, including 70 promotional clips and a four-part history of the label hosted by DESTRUCTION bassist/vocalist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer.

The following clips can be found on the "20 Years of Nuclear Blast" two-DVD set:

EXODUS vocalist Rob Dukes has issued the following update from the road:

"What a cool place, every show has been killer, the fans are fucking crazy... it's great.

We played some of the best shows ever down here, because of the crazy fans, they make it so goddamn fucking fun, I got so overwhelmed in the fun that I dove into the crowd... it was a fucking mistake... they ripped my shirt off, and would not let me back onto the stage, they were holding my legs, trying to pull my boots off, I had to kick and punch my way back onto the stage... it was fucking crazy... crazy, fucking crazy metalheads...

Veteran San Francisco Bay Area metallers EXODUS have made a new DVD available via their official webstore, The Exodus Store. Entitled "Double Live Dynamo!", the disc contains the following track listing:

October 27, 1985 - Dynamo Club, Eindhoven, Holland:

01. Exodus02. Bonded by Blood03. And Then There Were None04. Hell's Breath05. Deliver Us from Evil06. Deathrow07. Pleasures of the Flesh08. Lesson in Violence09. No Love10. Piranha11. Strike of the Beast12. Metal Command13. Impaler

May 17, 1997 - Dynamo Open Air, Eindhoven, Holland:

01. Bonded by Blood02. Exodus03. Pleasures of the Flesh04. And Then There Were None05. Piranha06. Deliver Us from Evil07. No Love08. Lesson in Violence09. Strike of the Beast

EXODUS' video for the song "Riot Act" can be viewed below. The track comes off the group's new album, "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A", which sold 3,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release,e according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD was recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California with producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, MACHINE HEAD, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY).

Peter Jandréus of Sweden's Critical Mass recently conducted an interview with EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

Critical Mass: Tom Hunting is back behind the drums on the new album. What happened to Paul (Bostaph)?

Gary: Well, you know, nothing happened to Paul. All that happened is that it was understood between everybody that if Tom wanted to come back there would be a seat waiting for him. He is one of the founding members and one of my best friends since I was 17 years old and Tom needed some time away from the band and to concentrate on his own self 'cause this band can be quite controlling on everybody's life and so he came back and Paul was absolutely fine with it and Paul wanted some time to himself anyway and I'm pleased that my buddy Paul is back in TESTAMENT, so it's a win-win situation for everybody.

Critical Mass: I was listening to your previous album the other day and perhaps you've gotten this question many times before but I was wondering about the song "Deathamphetamine". Is it a way for you of dealing with a darker past?

Gary: Yeah, sure, it was kinda my way of exorcise some of the demons I used to carry around. In a way it describes the nightmare of amphetamine abuse. I'm not the one to preach to people but if anybody out there putting the poison in 'em might learn something and not get as fucked up on the shit that I once was.

Critical Mass: So is music a sort of therapy for you in that sense?

Gary: Yeah, for sure, and in this band the music gets angry and angrier and I'm happy because of it. I don't walk around with a mean look on my face, I'm the happiest guy you'll ever meet. You know, it helps to express the anger through a song.

Critical Mass: Your current lineup really kicks ass but some might think that you are sort of touring with a company name and that you should change the name of the band?

Gary: Well, they don't know what the fuck they're talking about, for starters. I would understand and agree with them if, let's say, for instance, EXODUS was broken up and then five to ten years later Gary Holt comes out with four new guys and calls it EXODUS. That would not be right but when we went into the studio to do "Shovel Headed Kill Machine", Rick (Hunolt), who was still a member of the band, quit the day we moved the equipment in and he wasn't committed anymore. He also never went to rehearsal. Zetro (Steve Souza) was just an asshole. He was impossible to deal with even in 1993 so there was no choice but to let him go. He wasn't the original singer anyway. All these things happened within weeks and just before the recording of the album and I'm not going to stop what I've been focusing on for the last six months. EXODUS has been my baby since I was 14 years young and I'm not gonna let it die. Most people today have thanked me for not letting it fade away.

Critical Mass: How would you label the EXODUS sound of 2007?

Gary: It's absolutely thrash, and I'm not gonna let somebody convince me it's not, 'cause then I'll be running away from something we helped to create. You know, I don't approach things any differently than I did then. I mean, it starts with a riff and anybody who is a musician can see how I arrange songs. I have my own style and still go by it. But at the same time I'm not interested in sounding like I did in 1985. Other people are but I did that first so why would I wanna do it now.

Critical Mass: Here in Sweden stagediving is more or less forbidden at most larger venues and people is often thrown out because of that. Is it similar when you visit other countries? How do feel about it?

Gary: We just recently heard that we are the reason that stagediving and moshing is banned at the Whisky in Hollywood. I'm quite proud of that. I don't know how they plan to enforce those rules but I remember a couple years ago in Gothenburg this one kid dove of the stage and the whole crowd moved out of the way and he landed really bad and we could hear it from the stage and we thought that kid was gonna die. The ambulance came and everything but we saw him at the next show and he was OK. But I mean he hit hard — that shit was scary.

Critical Mass: Have you experienced more of that over the years?

Gary: Well, yeah, we were sued by this guy's parents when the crowd ran over this kid and they claimed that he had permanent emotional and physical scars but I say [anyone that] comes to see EXODUS already has the emotional [scars]!

Critical Mass: What part of the world you think has the wildest crowd?

Gary: You know, there was a time I wouldn't say this about Hollywood but our shows there has gotten more and more insane and the audience is 17-year-old kids and I've seen them in front of a venue doing sort of soundchecks to start up a pit on the sidewalk and it's like 20 kids at three o'clock in the afternoon just slammin' into each other in the street. People trying to walk by and they're terrified...

DUBLIN DEATH PATROL (DDP) — the new band featuring TESTAMENT singer Chuck Billy and former EXODUS vocalist Steve "Zetro" Souza — has scheduled a concert at Hard Rock Live in Mexico City, Mexico on January 28, 2008.

Fan-filmed video footage of DUBLIN DEATH PATROL (DDP) performing at the Underworld in London, England on June 18, 2007 can be viewed below.

DUBLIN DEATH PATROL made its live debut on June 3, 2007 at The Galaxy in Santa Ana, California. Check out photos of the concert at DirtJunior.com.

DUBLIN DEATH PATROL's debut album, "DDP 4 Life", is available now on Godfodder Records.

The makers of Get Thrashed: The Story of Thrash Metal have issued the following brief message:

"For all those who have been asking - Get Thrashed: The Story Of Thrash Metal should be out on DVD April, 2008. More details coming soon!!!"

Get Thrashed documents the history of thrash metal by dissecting the genre from its head banging beginnings to the present day resurgence. The film features some incredible vintage live footage as well as interviews from legendary acts such as EXODUS, SODOM, ANTHRAX, METALLICA and more!

Veteran San Francisco Bay Area thrashers EXODUS have released the following statement:

"EXODUS will not perform the announced Mexico shows October 25th – 27th [with support from AGENT STEEL] on their upcoming South American tour. The band was booked under false pretense by a promoter who failed to fulfill even basic requirements, logistically and financially. It later surfaced that promoter in question was involved in other show related controversies earlier this year when a world-known trash metal band from Europe had to cancel a planned Mexico appearance last minute and advance tickets sold in Mexico were not refunded to the fans.

"EXODUS is sorry to let down their Mexican fans but after failing to meet several deadlines for deposits, airfares and supplying production information, the promoter made it impossible to realize those shows. As of today, six days to originally planned departure from the U.S., the band did not receive any information regarding equipment, lodging and internal transport; neither airfares nor guarantees were paid."

EXODUS' new album, "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A", is available for streaming in its entirety until October 19 on the band's MySpace page.

Nuclear Blast will release "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A" on October 28th in Europe. The album was produced at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, CA by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, MACHINE HEAD, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY).

The buzz surrounding LA thrashers Warbringer is simply astounding following a slew of high-profile shows alongside the legendary Exodus and overwhelmingly positive reactions to the group's self-released EP. Upon signing a worldwide deal with Century Media Records, the quintet entered the studio with acclaimed producer Bill Metoyer, who helped shape legendary albums from the likes of Slayer, D.R.I. and Sacred Reich, among a slew of others.

John Kevill (vocals) states: "So far the recording's gone very well. Everything is now tracked, and mixing is currently in full swing. Everyone's pretty happy with how it's shaping up, and we all feel it's a huge step up for us. Working with Bill has been awesome. It's been very laid back, and we've received a lot of good feedback and input from him. Counting bonus material and everything, we did a total of 14 tracks. The cover art is also looking pretty bad-ass. The whole thing will be done in a couple of weeks, and we can't wait to unleash it upon the masses."

While Warbringer has built a rabid local fan base playing with others in the LA thrash revival scene, they're set to join Exodus, Arsis and Goatwhore on a national tour in January. This tour will be preceded by a number of warm-up dates opening for Suffocation/Immolation and Prong throughout the CA area this month. Having already completed a West Coast tour with Daath, in addition to the several shows with Exodus, these young thrash warriors (4 out of the 5 aren't even of legal drinking age) are prepared to bring their definitive brand of violent combat thrash to audiences nationwide.

Exclusively sold only through the Nuclear Blast European Mailorder website, a special version of EXODUS' The Atrocity Exhibition - Exhibit A will be strictly limited to 500 numbered copies and features: Special Blood Dripping Packaging (Packaging is the size of a DVD case), hidden bonus track and Numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

The Atrocity Exhibition - Exhibit A, will be available to stream in it's entirety from October 15th until October 19th on the band's MySpace page.

Several episodes of a 1990s public access comedy show that aired in Rockland County, New York starring current EXODUS frontman Rob Dukes have been posted online at this location. One of the episodes, "The Abusive Fisherman", can be viewed below.

EXODUS' new album, "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A", will be available for streaming in its entirety from October 15 until October 19 on the band's MySpace page. Due in North America on October 23 via Nuclear Blast Records, the CD was recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California with producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, MACHINE HEAD, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY). More...

When asked about the story behind the album title, Gary Holt said, "Why 'Exhibit A', you might ask? Because we already have four songs recorded and finished for the next album, which we will resume recording some time around the end of the year, and this is a two-part record. Part two being exhibit B. So yes, there will be another EXODUS album finished hopefully soon after the release of this one. And when all is said and done, there will never have been anything as brutal and genre-defining done before in thrash metal. An epic monster this one is, and the next is going to take it even further."

Just wanted to say a quick word. Fired up for the release date (of The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A), it can't come quick enough. Been doing press all day, every day, and while my ear hurts from holding a fucking piece of plastic to it hours on end, the response to the album has surpassed anything we could have hoped for. It's going over huge with every one I've talked to who's heard the record. Me, I haven't listened to it in a couple of months. I sick of that, I want to play these bastards live! Now if I can only find time between all the press and shit to get back to song writing, I'll be happy. And I'll see some of you soon in South America!

By purchasing an autographed copy of "Gary Holt's A Lesson In Guitar Violence" instructional DVD, you will automatically be entered into a random drawing to win a free half-hour guitar lesson from EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt and four tickets to an upcoming EXODUS show. The free lesson will be given before an upcoming EXODUS show in the winner's area (includes international customers). The winner is responsible for getting himself/herself into the show.

The winner will be announced (and subsequently contacted by e-mail) on January 1, 2008.

"Gary Holt's A Lesson in Guitar Violence" can be ordered through Zaentz at The Exodus Store. The disc contains never-before-seen live footage from 1985 at the Dynamo Club in Holland.